SUBTEXT FRIENDLY ALERT: The following story depicts an implied intimate relationship between two women -
both spiritually and physically. No sexual acts are depicted.

This is a post-FIN story - taking place a few years after the finale.
It was also my first attempt at FAN FIC, so please be kind.

LEAP OF FAITH

Written by: Sarah Mears

As many times as Lila had opened the door to welcome her sister home within the past couple of years, the sight of her beaten, bloody body never got easier to witness... only harder.


"Lila." Gabrielle's husky voice is barely audible past the doorway.

"Gabrielle." Lila helps her in and closes the door.


Lila had stopped asking for detailed descriptions of Gabrielle's exploits. In the final analysis they were always about the same thing. "I'm fighting for the greater good." How she had come to hate those words.


"You know, for once I wish you'd come to visit just for the hell of it, instead of as a pit stop between battles." Lila says wearily, as she mechanically goes to a cupboard and gets the tray of healing supplies.

Gabrielle rummages through her saddlebag to find her medicine pouches. "Sorry. I'll remember that next time... Do you have any bandages? I'm out, and I think I've bruised a rib."

Lila plops the tray down on the table in front of Gabrielle.

That was fast, Gabrielle notes to herself. "Thanks." She continues searching her bags, taking out various items to see what's underneath them.

"I think you've bruised your head." Lila prepares the bandages as she watches Gabrielle in amazement. "If you ask me, you're going far beyond what could possibly be expected of one person."

"I'm doing what I've always done."

"Not even Xena took on the kinds of dangers you do."

"And how would you know that?"

"I've read your scrolls."

Gabrielle gives a slight chuckle, knowing the difference between literary license and reality.

"If I didn't know you better, I'd swear you were trying to kill yourself."

Without hesitation, Gabrielle pulls out Xena's urn and puts it on the table, continuing to search the bag.

Lila looks at the urn and picks it up in surprise. "You are trying to kill yourself."

"Don't be ridiculous." She looks up and sees Lila staring at the urn, then at her.

"Don't lie to me, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle takes the urn. "I'm not." She puts it back in the bag.

"Look at you! It's like you're punishing yourself for Xena's death. It wasn't your fault. She chose to die!"

"I know! ... I was there." The pain in Gabrielle's voice causes Lila's heart to ache. The warrior-bard strains to get up to leave the room. "I didn't come here for a lecture."

"Then why did you come?"

"I don't know!" More frustrated than angry, she makes her way, with great effort, towards the bedroom door, and then stops. "Maybe, because you're the only family I have left." Without looking back, she goes into the bedroom and shuts the door.

** **
A little while later, Gabrielle lies on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Tears fill her eyes and stream effortlessly down the sides of her face.

What's happening to me, Xena? Have I really lost it? Is Lila right? Do I have a death wish? I grieved for you, Xena, but I accepted your decision. And I've tried to move on. To continue our work..." A sob catches in her throat. "But I can't stop thinking this is all some horrible nightmare... It's just so wrong!"

She starts to weep, and covers her face with a pillow so as not to disturb her sister in the next room. But a moment later, Lila opens the door.

"Gabrielle? Are you awake?" She hears her sister's stifled sobs. "Oh Gabrielle." She goes and sits on the bed. "You have to stop this. I know how much you loved her, but..." She pauses so as to choose her words carefully. "Xena wouldn't want you to suffer so."

A muffled voice is barely heard from behind the pillow. "Then why did she leave me?"

Lila gently removes the pillow from Gabrielle's tear-stained face. "What did you say?"

After a pause, Gabrielle whispers, "My ribs hurt."

Lila sighs as she looks into her big sister's bloodshot, green eyes. Then with a smile she replies, "We'd better bind them up then, eh?"

** **
Later that night, Gabrielle, ribs bound tight and secure, fitfully sleeps" dreaming of her beloved.

"Xena? ... Xena."

"I'm here, Gabrielle. I'm right here."

"Don't leave me."

Xena lies down beside her on the bed. "I'll never leave you, my dearest friend."

Gabrielle opens her eyes and looks over at Xena. All the familiar words come flowing out of their mouths with the same fresh urgency as if for the first time.

"You promised you wouldn't die on me again."

"You know why I did it. I couldn't come back."

"You said we'd grow old together."

"We will." Xena touches her soulmate's cheek. "Together... for eternity."

Gabrielle closes her eyes, not wanting to face reality. "I need you, Xena."

"You have me... always."

The bard turns her head and sends a longing gaze towards her dead lover, "It's not the same."

"Gabrielle..." Xena whispers and gently rests her forehead on Gabrielle's.

"I can't do it anymore... I'm so tired."

"Yes you can. You have to." Xena strokes her love's hair.

"Why? Why me? I'm only one person. I can't do it all alone. I'm not strong enough."

Xena cradles the young warrior's face in her hand and looks straight into her deep green eyes. "Yes you are."

"I'm not!" Gabrielle sits up.

"Gabrielle..."

"Don't 'Gabrielle' me!" She struggles to control the flow of her tears. "I can't live without you!"

Xena slowly sits up next to her, "Gab--" She stops herself, thinking how best to respond. "People need you here."

Gabrielle turns her head sharply to look into Xena's eyes. "People need us!" She wipes the tears from her face. "Without you none of my work means anything."

"Of course it does!"

"Not to me."

The coldness in Gabrielle's voice stuns even Xena. She counters her partner's stare and slowly responds, "You don't mean that."

"I do mean that. Don't tell me what I mean. You may be dead, but you can't read my mind."

Calmly, Xena insists, "No. But I can read your heart."

Gabrielle looks into the warm, loving gaze of her friend. Her own face slowly softens. "Then you must see how it's changed."

"Yes. It's gotten stronger." Xena caresses Gabrielle's hair.

The bard gives up with a tearful little smile. "Oh, Xena." She lays her head back on Xena's shoulder. "Don't ever give up on me."

"Never." Xena gives her a tender kiss.


Gabrielle turns over onto her side, caressing her pillow.

"Xena."

She wakes up slowly and is unsettled at finding herself alone. She returns to lying on her back, and catches her breath, which is always required after waking from one of her Xena dreams - a regular experience anytime she allows herself the luxury of sleep. And this dream in particular always seems to come just after a big skirmish, when her exhaustion has overtaken her senses.


Gabrielle had often wondered if Xena ever felt this drained after a big battle. To her it had always seemed as if Xena acquired more energy after a fight. It was the down time that stressed the Warrior Princess out. "Too much time to think," she'd say. That was one of many differences between them. Gabrielle loved to think and contemplate... to figure everything and everyone out. That was the Bard in her, she suspected.

But Gabrielle wasn't just physically tired. There was a heavy spiritual fatigue that plagued her... far greater than any she'd ever experienced before Xena's death. It was like the weight of the entire world rested on her shoulders alone. She knew Xena had felt this burden for as long as she had known her. And it was this burden of responsibility that had caused Xena to make the decision that changed both of their lives forever. Agreeing with that decision or not, for Gabrielle it all came down to accepting what was, and finding a way to live with it. Only then could she keep her sanity and continue the "good fight." This had not been easy. Especially since the more time passed, the heavier that weight of responsibility seemed to become.


As per the ritual, Gabrielle gets up to wash the images away from her fuzzy head. Out of habit, she picks up the chakram from the side table and places it in the hook on her belt as she leaves the room.

Outside, she makes her way to the well, where she dumps several ladles of water over her head from the bucket. She shakes her head a few times, wipes her face with her hands, and then suddenly looks up as if hearing something in the distance.

She looks around the yard, sees nothing unusual, yet she can't get rid of a sense of uneasiness. She peers off towards the woods, unhooks the chakram from her belt in preparation for trouble, and goes to discover what's out there... watching her.

** **
Gabrielle walks cautiously through the woods... listening... sensing... Suddenly, she stops short. An arrow whizzes at her from behind and she catches it next to her ear.

"Nice catch." A woman's strong, low voice purrs from... somewhere.

"I had a good teacher." Gabrielle waits a moment, not moving. "Who are you?"

Lips graze Gabrielle's ear and whisper, "The one who taught your teacher."

Though startled, Gabrielle keeps as still as a statue. "What do you mean?"

"Because of me, your beloved lived to become the legend you helped preserve for all posterity." This mysterious stranger, shrouded in shadow, begins to slowly encircle Gabrielle as she speaks. "A long time ago I pulled the drenched little rug-rat out of a rushing river. I then taught her the proper way to fish... hunt... and generally survive this cruel world of ours."

"You did all that?"

"Yes. I did." The woman states proudly.

"That's impossible."

"Why's that?" The hooded inquisitor is having too much fun.

"Because" Xena told me that Artemis did all those things."

The dark cloaked figure stops in her tracks and looks at the bard. "She told you that?"

"Yes."

"Well, I wouldn't want to call Xena a liar... now would I?" Continuing to circle.

"Which means you're the liar, because Artemis is dead."

"Ah-huh." A finger is raised in the air to punctuate her sarcasm. "Because Xena killed her, I suppose."

"Exactly." Gabrielle has started to turn in order to keep this intriguing stranger in view.

Artemis notes with pleasure the young woman's confidence. "Nnno. Actually, Xena killed one of my scared little sister's devoted conquests. I haven't set foot on Mount Olympus in... a while. Quite a while. But that's another story."

"You expect me to believe that?"

The goddess stops to confront her new confidant. "If you want your precious Xena back, then yes. I do."

"What do you mean?"

Artemis takes a pointed step closer to Gabrielle. She removes the hood from her head, revealing a beautiful, yet ashen skinned face, framed by a mane of auburn hair.

"I mean, a terrible wrong has been committed and it's my job to fix it."

The warrior-bard keeps a wary front, "Fix it... How?"

Leaning in even closer, "By reminding Xena of the true meaning of redemption."

** **
Early that morning, just before dawn, Gabrielle packs her saddlebag quickly and quietly in the main room of her family home. She is on a mission, focused and determined. As she begins to tie up the last bag, Lila's voice comes from behind her.

"Not even a 'good-bye' this time?"

Gabrielle turns quickly to face her sister. "It's an emergency. I have to go to Arcadia."

"Only to Arcadia? What happened to Britannia, Gaul, Egypt--?"

"Lila, I can't debate my travel log with you right now. Velasca's on the loose again and putting together an army of Amazons to battle Ares' forces."

"Why?"

"To gain control of Olympus, no doubt. Not that there's much left to control. But power is power." She's finished tying the bag and throws it over her shoulder.

"What do you care about the Olympian gods?"

"I don't. I care about the Amazons." She heads for the door.

Lila responds with haste, "And I care about you. Which is why I'm coming with you." This stops Gabrielle in mid-stride, and she quickly spins around on her heels.

"Wha--? Lila, this is dangerous. I can't --"

Interrupting her, "Good. I'll finally get a little excitement in my life."

"You can't be serious!"

"Why not? Sarah's happily married and taking care of her own family now. She doesn't need her nosy mother hanging around."

Taking a step towards her sister, "I'm sure that's not true--"

Still deaf to her sister's arguments, "But you on the other hand..."

Expectantly, "Yes? What about me?"

Lila starts to respond, then thinks better of it. "I'm coming with you. No arguments." Before Gabrielle can protest further, Lila goes into her room to get her things.

The frustrated Battling Bard takes a seat in a chair to wait... something she has a feeling she'll have to get used to doing from now on.

** **
"How are you doing back there?" Gabrielle gives a quick glance back at Lila, as she and Argo maintain their forward momentum down the road.

"Fine. Will you stop asking me that? I may not have aged as well as you, but I'm not an invalid either." Lila adjusts herself in the saddle, doing her best to ignore the ache in her back.


Gabrielle had to admit. Her sister was doing far better than she expected. Yes, they were having to take more respites than she was used to, but Lila had yet to complain about the long hours in the saddle or the soreness that she was sure to be experiencing as a result. Lila even insisted on doing all the cooking - a luxury the bard found most appealing. And with each passing day on their journey, Gabrielle was faced with the remembrance of days past when she and Xena relished their time alone together on the road, chatting about the world around them, the people they met, and the experiences they had. Of course, Gabrielle had done most of the actual chatting, but having Lila along now, she was beginning to see what it must have been like for Xena.


"By the gods, my sister is talkative. I had forgotten."

"Must run in the family." Xena, now used to taking a back seat to Gabrielle, on Argo no less, has finally decided to make her presence known. Not that she needs to, for Gabrielle always knows when her spirit is there.

"I guess so."

"Ok. I know it's useless to try to talk you out of this little adventure--"

"Yes it is."

"But how exactly do you know Velasca's escaped?"

"I just know." Gabrielle glows with confidence.

"A little bird told you?"

"You could say that," she assures her worried partner.

Xena is now even more suspicious. "Ok... Then have you thought about how you plan to defeat... a god?"

Still brimming with assuredness. "I have faith."

"Faith?" Xena chuckles. "In what?"

"Not in what, in whom," Gabrielle corrects.

"All right, I'll bite. In whom do you suddenly have faith?"

Gabrielle smiles cunningly. "How 'bout myself?"

"You know I love you, Gabrielle. And I have complete confidence in your abilities. But unless I'm mistaken, it took you, me, and Callisto to defeat this bitch the last time. Now it's you and... Lila? Forgive me, but I don't like the odds."

Lifting up a finger, "You're forgetting the Amazons."

"No, I'm not." Xena grabs her cocky partner's finger and bends it backwards.

"Ouch!" Gabrielle squeals.

Xena releases her hold. "But you're still talking about mortals fighting an immortal. What do you expect to do to stop her?" She nudges up to Gabrielle's ear. "What's your plan... another lava pit?"

"I'll know it when I get there."

"Oh no no no no no." Xena booms, "That didn't work on you when I tried it, it certainly won't work on me."

"Trust me, Xena. I know what I'm doing."

Lila rides up along side Gabrielle. "Um. I don't mean to interrupt your conversation with... Xena, but do you mind filling me in more on this Velasca situation."

Xena is surprised. "You haven't told Lila the Velasca story?"

"I did," Gabrielle counters defensively.

"Did what?" the weary widow asks.


Lila had come to accept her sister's newfound idiosyncrasies. Yet she found it extremely frustrating to have a conversation with her while Xena's ghost was around. But not having any choice in the matter, since she didn't have Gabrielle's 'soulmate' privileges of being able to hear and see the Warrior Princess, she quickly realized that complaining about it was useless. However, she never stopped feeling a bit stupid and out of the loop having to ask so many questions all the time. Then again, she often didn't understand things even when Xena had been alive and she could hear their entire conversations.


Gabrielle gives a snide glance back at Xena, then focuses on her sister, "You said you read my scrolls, right?"

"Yeah." Lila agrees sheepishly.

"Including The Quest?"

Lila blushes, "Um, yes... I read that one."

"Right. The Quest. That was a good one." Xena smiles in the recollection. Then she remembers, "Well, not entirely. I was dead then, too."
Gabrielle turns to glare at her back-seat driver. "Shh."

"Sorry."

"What?" Once In a while Lila's poor head just spins with confusion.

"Nothing. With patience, Gabrielle steers the topic back on track. "Then there was A Necessary Evil, which told how Velasca had it in for me for taking away her right to be Queen, and for Artemis, claiming she'd abandoned the Amazons?"

"Sure. She ate the ambrosia, became a god, and you and Xena put her into a lava pit." Lila states with authority.

Xena is now the confused one. "What does Artemis have to do with this?"

Taken off guard, Gabrielle hesitates. "I... was just... reminding Lila about Velasca's motives."

"But Artemis is dead. And Velasca will only be after you now, which is why I don't want you going to face her alone."

"Alright. Can we talk about this later? We're wasting precious daylight."

Lila is hurt. "I just wanted to know more about who we'll be fighting."

"I wasn't talking to you! And you," pointing a finger at her middle-aged sister, "are not fighting anyone."

Gabrielle is reaching her limit of tolerance. She halts Argo to try and calm down. Lila does the same with her horse.

"I'm sorry, Lila. I didn't mean to yell at you. Xena, please go away now. You're distracting me. And I'm getting a very big headache."

"Fine!" Xena disappears.

"Lila, to answer your question" I have to stop Velasca before she stops me."

"But she's a god. How can you stop a god?"

Gabrielle finally loses it with a burst of frustration. "Aaah!" She then releases a big sigh. "Just trust me, ok. Can you do that?" Lila nods her head. "Good. Now let's go."

She digs her heels into Argo's sides and rides off, with a bewildered and frustrated Lila trotting along behind.

** **
After many days, Gabrielle and Lila finally make their way into Amazon territory.

"Something's wrong." Gabrielle's senses are in high gear.

"What is it?" the inexperienced one inquires.

"We've been riding through Amazon lands for at least an hour now. We should have met a scouting party long ago."

She gives the area another once-over, then, "Come on." She urges Argo into a gallop. Lila follows.

** **
As they ride into camp, Gabrielle is stunned by what she sees. Most of the huts are scorched or mere piles of ashes on the ground. As they ride through the rubble, Gabrielle looks about, with chakram in hand, and fearing the worst. She's too late!

"Varia?" No answer. Then she hears a noise in the Queen's hut, which is the only complete building still standing. "Varia?"

After a moment a young Amazon emerges through the doorway, bow and arrow at the ready. "Who are you?"

"I'm Queen Gabrielle. Where is Queen Varia?"

"Gone. Velasca took her. She's captured all of the queens. We think they must be dead."

"Why?"

"It's been five days. Our search parties found nothing. No trace of them anywhere. They must be dead."

"Who's in command now?"

"I am."

Lila chimes in. "How many of you are there?"

"Ten now... that we know of. We went into hiding until Velasca left. Most of us are wounded. The rest are dead or have joined Velasca's army."

Gabrielle gets off her horse. "Come on Lila. We have work to do."

** **
That night, after tending to the wounded, Gabrielle keeps watch in the middle of camp. She's exhausted and worried as she sits on a log by a small fire.

"Ok. Now what?"

"Be patient." Artemis' voice comes from the night wind. "Velasca will tell you what's next. To be a great hunter, you must be patient. She knows you're out here."

"Great. Is that supposed to comfort me?"

"It's supposed to keep you on your toes." Artemis says plainly.

Her shadowy figure emerges from behind a burnt out hut, just in back of Gabrielle. "You've learned much from your partner. I'm not sure I like being detected so easily."

"You've been in hiding too long." Gabrielle looks up, as the mysterious goddess comes into her view. "Why come out now?"

"It's time."

"Time for what? To bury the Amazon nation once and for all? Why didn't you help them?"

"Why didn't you? Aren't you their queen?"

"You're their god!"

"I'm not a god." Artemis humbly confesses, "Not any more."

"What do you mean?"

"It's a long story."

"It's a long night," Gabrielle encourages, "You'll keep me awake."

Artemis relents. She starts to slowly walk around the fire as she speaks. "I had a child, many years ago. Ares discovered this fact and tried to use it against me."

"Ah. Tarnishing your virgin goddess reputation." She sucks on her upper teeth a few times, and wags her index finger in the air. "To be worshipped, not touched."

"Humph." Artemis snorts and nods her head. "Yeah, right." Then with pure disgust, "Men!"

She takes a few more steps around the fire before continuing. "To protect the child from Ares grasp I gave her up and distanced myself from her so no one would suspect her identity."

"Her?"

"My daughter."

"What about your son? Bellerophon."

Almost with embarrassment, "He came later. A whole other story." Artemis quickly continues her tale. "Anyway, to make my position on Olympus even more unstable, I later refused to join Athena in her desperate quest to kill Eve."
"And she took your powers away?"

"More like, I gave them up. I disappeared." She stops and stares into the fire. "Years later, after Xena killed my impersonator, people stopped worshiping me. A god doesn't exist without worshipers." She kneels down beside Gabrielle. "It seems I've been living like a mortal for so long I've begun to doubt my own godhood. When you no longer believe in yourself... what powers are left you?"

"But you could have helped us against the gods."

"The politics of Olympus are... complicated. Besides, Xena's destiny is far beyond even my--"

"Far beyond... what?"

"Beyond anyone's comprehension," Artemis looks up into the night sky, "...including The Powers That Be."

Gabrielle wants desperately to know what exactly Artemis means by this, but she also knows how elusive the gods are. So she decides to let it go... for the moment.

"But you're still immortal. You're still alive."

"For now." The goddess thoughtfully implies.

"Then you must have some powers, right? I mean, to go against Velasca--"

"Do you have faith in me, Gabrielle?" Artemis interrupts her with great seriousness.

Gabrielle thinks for a moment... searching her heart. "Yes."

"Do you have faith in yourself?"

Without hesitation, "Yes."

A contented grin fills Artemis' face, "Then Velasca is no match for us."

Without thinking, Gabrielle is drawn to this intriguing goddess. Her curiosity overcomes her. "Do you ever see your daughter?"

Artemis looks wistfully into the fire. "Sometimes."

"Does she know?"

"No." Gabrielle can hear the regret in her voice.

"Why not tell her? What can Ares do to her now?"

"I wish I could."

"Why can't you?"

Artemis sighs, and then changes the subject. "You should rest for your journey tomorrow. Sleep. I'll keep watch."

Gabrielle looks at her with apprehension. The goddess smiles.

"Trust me. Besides Velasca is long gone from here." Before Gabrielle has a chance to respond, Artemis disappears into the night.

The young queen sits there a moment pondering all that the hunter goddess has revealed to her. "You'd think I'd be use to the gods' quirks by now."

"She's unique, this one." Gabrielle turns to Xena who has taken Artemis' place beside her.

"You heard?"

"Apparently her tale of woe wasn't enough of a secret to make me deaf to your little exchange... this time. I take it she's your informative little bird."

A bit uncomfortable by Xena's insinuating tone, the bard confirms, "Yes. She wants to help the Amazons."

"And you." Xena looks with great concern at her friend. "Be careful, Gabrielle. She may appear to have good intentions, but she's just as cunning and manipulative as the rest. Only she's much more subtle, which makes her more dangerous."

"What exactly went on between you two?"

"Simple." The bite in her voice is unmistakable. "She befriended me, then deserted me when I needed her most."

Gabrielle can tell there is more to it than that. Especially in terms of Xena's feelings, which, by the look on her face, are not simple.

"All I'm saying is, watch your back. You can't be too careful where the gods are concerned."

"I know. But I think she's sincerely wishing to make amends for her past mistakes, Xena. You can't blame me for helping her try. Can you?"

As always, Gabrielle knows how to wrap Xena around her little finger.

"No. That's what makes you... you."

Xena takes the bard's hand in hers and tenderly kisses it. Their smiles to each other sparkle all the more as the fire blazes on... the smoke billowing into the night sky.

** **
The next morning, Gabrielle and Lila set off again on the road to Arcadia. Lila looks back towards the direction of the Amazon camp.

"Shouldn't we have taken them with us, or something. What if Velasca comes back?" Lila, the novice, inquires.

"She won't. It's best they take care of their wounded and recover before joining us later... if they can. We need to keep on Velasca's tail. We can't loose any more time."

After a moment of contemplation Lila proclaims, "I'm slowing you down, aren't I? I could go back and stay with the Amazons."

"No. They have enough to worry about." After a pause, the bard winks and smiles at her sister. "Actually, I'm getting kind of used to having you around... Ok?"

Lila beams with joy to hear this, "Ok." They ride on for a bit. Then, "But if I start to get in your way, or disrupt your focus or concentration, or if you just need me to disappear or anything... just let me know."

Gabrielle stifles a giggle. "I will. Thanks."

"'Cause I don't want to get in your way when we do find Velasca. That's the last thing I intended to do by coming along. I just wanted to spend some time with you, take care of all the unimportant things so that you could concentrate fully on your mission... And the chance to see the world a bit was a nice bonus, too. Of course, I never imagined..."

As Lila chatters away, Gabrielle silently reflects, "I wasn't this bad... was I?"

"Yep." Xena answers.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm not."

"How did you put up with me?"

"I don't know. I'm a sucker for the way your nose wrinkles up when you're trying to be clever..."

Gabriel snickers, while her sister continues her own reflections on all her latest discoveries... The siblings take great delight in each other's company as they ride side by side down the road.

** **
As Gabrielle and Lila cautiously ride through the Arcadian woods, someone is slowly walking in the bushes near by.

Gabrielle has picked up on this movement, though no sounds are heard -- at least not that Lila can hear. But Lila knows enough to keep as quiet and still as she can when her sister is in that... mood.

Automatically, Gabrielle slows Argo down, yet continues forward... listening... waiting...

The movement gets closer and closer to them... until finally, Gabrielle leaps off her horse and points the chakram towards a tree.

"Come out! Now!"

"It's just me." Artemis peeks out from behind the tree, hands in the air. "Gods you're good!"

"Don't play games with me! I'm not in the mood." Yet Gabrielle can't help but give a sigh of relief.

Lila nervously searches to see the person her sister is talking to. Not finding anyone to view, she shrugs and assumes it must be Xena.

"Nor am I. I found Varia." Artemis announces with great smugness. "If you're interested."

"Where?" Gabrielle puts the chakram back in its hook on her hip, while noting to herself, Now I know where Xena gets her cheeky attitude.

"Over there." Artemis points towards a cave several yards behind her.

Gabrielle takes Argo's reigns and quickly guides her in that direction. Not wanting to get left behind, Lila gets off her horse and follows.

As they get closer to the cave, Gabrielle inquires, "Varia? It's me, Gabrielle. Are you in there?"

"Don't you trust me?" Artemis cajoles her.

"Not in a cave." The bard teases back.

Artemis smiles, while Lila sighs and looks around in wonderment.

Gabrielle peers inside the dark cave. "Varia?"

After a moment of silence, a faint voice is heard from within the cave, "Gabrielle?"

"Varia!" Leaving the horses outside, Gabrielle snatches her water skin from the saddle, takes the chakram in hand once again, and hurries into the cave.

Lila is reluctant to follow. She's distracted by wondering where her sister's invisible friend is.

In jest, Artemis motions for Lila to precede her into the darkness. "After you." Startled, as though hearing the goddess' voice in the wind, Lila scurries into the cave. Artemis chuckles, then follows.

Inside, barely able to see anything accept a distant light, Gabrielle and co. follow Varia's voice. "I'm in here... My leg's broken... Gabrielle, how did you find me?"

Giving a glance back at Artemis, Gabrielle replies, "I had a little help."

"A little?" Artemis snuffs.

Finally, they reach her, sitting on the ground next to a small fire -- her leg stretched out in front of her, wrapped in a splint of branches and vines. Gabrielle examines it with a professional eye. "Well done."

"We Amazon's are pretty resourceful when we need to be." They smile at each other. Varia looks over at Lila. "Who's this?"

"This is my sister, Lila."

"I've heard a lot about you. Gabrielle's sister is a sister of the Amazon's. It's nice we could finally meet." Varia offers her hand in greeting.

Lila takes it. "I just wish it were under better circumstances."

"No kidding." Varia adjusts her position so that Lila can sit next to her.

The new sister Amazon watches with great interest as the two warrior queens get down to business.

Gabrielle offers Varia her water skin. "How did you get away from Velasca?"

"Some of my warriors turned a blind eye so I could escape." She takes a gulp of water.

"Do you think they'd still be loyal to you, given the chance."

Wiping her mouth, "I think so."

"Good. We may need their help."

"Valasca's crazy, Gabrielle. She keeps ranting about taking her mother's place."

Gabrielle is taken aback. "Her mother?"

"Yeah. She's claiming to be Artemis' long lost daughter. She's convinced many of our young sisters that she is to take her mother's place as patron goddess of the Amazon's, now that Artemis is dead."

Gabrielle looks at Artemis, "She's your daughter??"

Artemis frowns, "In her dreams!"

The warrior-bard isn't convinced, "You sure about that?"

"Positive." Artemis looks more than confident.

Varia's confusion is mounting. "Gabrielle... who are you talking to?"

Gabrielle looks at Artemis again, highly annoyed. "You're not visible? Oh thanks!"

"We're in Arcadia now. My forest. I have to be careful."

Gabrielle sighs, "Great!"

Lila turns to Varia with sympathy. "Don't worry. You get used to it after a while."

** **
Later that night, Gabrielle has laid out the plan to her comrades. But Artemis shakes her head. "I don't like it."

"Me neither," Xena chimes in.

Gabrielle jumps at Xena's sudden appearance next to her. "Who asked you? Either of you." Gabrielle's headache has returned.

Varia whispers to her newfound friend, Lila, "There are two of them?"

Lila shrugs, "Apparently. I've lost count, myself."

Xena is adamant, "It's too risky."

"Well, I'm the one taking the risks, not you. So it's my decision."

"Precisely! That's why I don't like it." Xena and Gabrielle face off.

"Do you have a better idea?"


It seemed a lifetime ago since Xena first saw Gabrielle stand up to Draco's men by herself. And Xena had to admit, not much had changed, really. The fire was still as bright as ever in those green eyes she had grown to love... and depend upon.


Xena looks into those very eyes in reluctant silence.

"No?" Gabrielle looks at Artemis, "How about you?" Artemis shrugs. The warrior queen turns to her two sisters, "Or you two? Any suggestions?"

Varia and Lila look blankly back at her, shaking their heads.

"All right then! It's settled. We leave at dawn. So if you don't mind, I'm going to sleep now."

Lila and Varia look at each other, then out at... the emptiness before them on the other side of the fire, where Xena and Artemis are scowling at one another for a moment before simultaneous disappearing.

Curling up on her bedroll, Gabrielle closes her eyes with a smile. "Finally. Peace and quiet."

** **
A little while later, just outside the cave entrance, Artemis sits in quiet meditation in the moonlight. But her reverie is interrupted by Xena, who appears next to her in quite a state of agitation.

Xena paces for a moment before speaking.

"All right, moon goddess... What in the name of the gods are you doing? Are you trying to get Gabrielle killed?"

Without opening up her eyes, Artemis calmly responds, "Why would I want to do that?"

"You tell me? ... Revenge?"

"For what?"

"I don't know. To get back at me for killing your son?"

"My son was a fool." She opens her eyes and looks at Xena. "Exactly how would Gabrielle's death avenge him? Would it really cause you that much pain, Xena? I would think you'd be glad to finally have her with you again."

Xena snarls at the goddess, "It's not her time to die."

Artemis is not intimidated in the least. "Who says? You? Since when were you ordained an oracle... a fate... a god? You may have been the cause of thousands of deaths, Xena, but are you so egotistical to think you are completely responsible. How do you know it wasn't their time to die? Hmm? Gabrielle is on her own path now, thanks, in part, to you. But you are not responsible for her... Not any more."

"And I suppose you are. Is that it?"

Artemis laughs in exasperation. "No, that's not it. Gods! You are the most stubborn woman. Did your death not teach you anything?"

Xena is speechless. Yet thousands of thoughts are rushing through her mind. She can't defend herself, even though she knows that... What exactly do I know? ... That Artemis is right? I have been stubborn all these years... and selfish and stupid and ... Wait. I did what I thought was best... for everyone. And if I was wrong, then... Aaah! This is not the time for this! Focus, Xena. Focus!

"I can't let Gabrielle die!"

"What do you intend to do about it? You know her better than anyone. Can you stop her?"

Xena sighs. "No. She'll do what she thinks is right, no matter the consequences."

Artemis smiles. "That sounds vaguely familiar."

"What do you me--?" Xena stops herself in the sudden realization.

Artemis looks at her with a knowing, bemused glance.

Getting further irritated by the goddess's know-it-all attitude, Xena insists, "All right. You obviously have something you want to say to me. Out with it."

After a slight pause, Artemis simply states, "I think I've said quite enough for one night. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to finish my communal." She closes her eyes again.

Xena bubbles with furry, and starts to pace again in frustration.

"Always so aloof... so distant. But that's your strength, isn't it? A godly trait for sure, but you always seemed to excel at it more than the others, somehow. Of course, I had to learn that the hard way, didn't I?"

Xena kneels down in front of Artemis, staring at her, intently.

"Ok. We won't talk about what's bothering you. So how about what's bothering me?"

Xena takes a deep breath.

"Why did you leave me as a child? ... Didn't you care that my village was being attacked... my friends and family killed? Didn't it matter to you in the slightest?"

Artemis stays quiet.

As if she were that young teenager again, Xena is near tears, remembering back to a time long ago. "You said you were my friend."

"I was. I am."

"No. You don't desert a friend when they need you most."

Artemis opens her eyes and stares unflinchingly into Xena's deep blue ones. "Don't you? Even if it might be for the best?"

"Lyceus' death? ... My turning to evil and joining Ares? All that was for the best?"

"It made you stronger, gave you skills I couldn't possibly have taught you. It brought you to Gabrielle. It led you to your way. There's a balance in all things, Xena. You can't have the best in life without the worst." She waits a moment to let this sink in before, "So too, guilt cannot exist without forgiveness."

For once in her life, Xena has been led into a web of thoughts in which she has difficulty maneuvering.

"You want me to forgive you? Is that what this is about?"

The patient goddess sighs, and stares into Xena's soul with great compassion. "You tell me."

As Xena contemplates the endless cycle of questions before her, the Moon shines brightly down on them, begging her brother Sun to wait just a little longer before making his glorious appearance. But alas he cannot wait, and the morning comes, presenting all of the forthcoming dangers this band of do-gooders now faces.

** **
One by one, Gabrielle, Varia, and Lila get into their places in the woods, surrounding Velasca's camp. They watch as the Amazon warriors prepare for battle with drums, chanting, dances, and war paint.

Artemis, positioned in her sideline viewpoint, takes to heart the continuation of traditions to which the Amazons hold fast. Traditions she, herself, encouraged them to develop so long ago.

Her satisfaction is crushed, however, when a group of warriors usher out the captured queens, who are then tied to stakes, which have been placed in a circle around a blazing fire in the center of the camp. A wooden tower has been erected as an alter of sorts at the pinnacle of the circle.

Gabrielle nods to each of her companions, who in turn nod their readiness. She then makes her move into camp, unseen by its occupants. Like a fox she creeps around huts and wagons, getting as close to the center of camp as possible.

A young warrior motions for the ceremony to halt.

"Sisters! We humbly ask that the new goddess of the Amazons - the great Velasca, herself - honor us with her presence, so that we may offer her these rebel warriors as tribute to her almighty powers. Oh fierce and noble Velasca, come and be with us as we prepare to go to battle in your name against your greatest enemy, Ares. Help us defeat his army and bring you to your rightful place as Queen of all Olympus, ruler of the Universe."

Artemis watches in utter amazement. "What a crock o' shit!"

Suddenly, a gust of wind sweeps through the woods and into the camp. The bonfire rises higher into the sky, swirling with the funnel of wind that engulfs it. The funnel sinks down into the flames, only to burst forth again as the fierce, self made goddess steps out from the whirlwind and onto the tower's platform.

"Show-off!" Artemis might actually be impressed if she weren't so disgusted by such a spectacle.

"Velasca!" Gabrielle whispers from beneath a wagon she ducked under while watching the goddess's audacious arrival.

"That's Velasca all right." Xena stands with great concern at Artemis' shoulder, taking in the scene.

"You had doubts?" Xena throws Artemis a quick snarling glance before getting her watchful eyes back on Gabrielle.

Velasca addresses her troops, "I accept your generous gift... However, there's just two items missing." She turns to direct everyone's attention to two warriors dragging into camp a stumbling Varia, whose head is dripping with blood.

"Varia!" Gabrielle's intake of breath keeps her exclamation from being too audible.

"There's one. Now we wait for the second... Come out, come out, where ever you are!" Velasca looks around expectantly. "Oh Gabrielle. Didn't you learn your lesson the first time? You can't hide from me. I can smell you!"

While Varia is being tied to a stake, the other Amazons look around, wondering if Velasca's claims are true. A few even whisper to each other, "Queen Gabrielle? ... Is she really here?"

"Gabrielle! Don't be a fool. What do you hope to accomplish? Your precious Xena is dead. Varia and all your fellow queens captured. You're all alone. Not even... your sister can help you now." Another warrior pulls Lila out from behind a tent.

Gabrielle bites her lip, as Velasca laughs. "You can't defeat me! No one can."

"Think again, sweetie!"

Velasca and Gabrielle turn to see Artemis standing on the other side of the bonfire.

"Who in Tartarus are you?" The puffed-up goddess spews with annoyance.

"Well, I'm not your mama, that's for sure."

Varia musters the strength to declare to all, "This is Artemis... True goddess of the Amazons!"

The crowd becomes energized as the Amazons begin to question the situation in which they now find themselves.

Velasca releases another hearty laugh. "That's impossible. Artemis is dead. Xena killed her."

Artemis calmly challenges her, "Were you there? As I recall you've been stuck in a lava pit for... how long's it been anyway? A true god would have gotten out long ago."

"I am a true god! Which is more than I can say for you.

Artemis is getting a bit annoyed with this sorry excuse for a goddess. She takes her bow and sends an arrow straight into Velasca's chest. Velasca barely moves upon impact. She looks down at it, removes the extremity from her person and holds it up for examination.

"Well, that was pointless." She then sights her target, unsheathes her sword, and takes a flying leap over the flames, landing smack in front of Artemis.

At which point Gabrielle takes her cue, "NOW!"

As she charges out from under the wagon to attack the nearest Amazons, Varia tosses a smoke bomb into the fire, causing much surprise and distress among her captors.

Simultaneously, Lila tosses her once hidden handful of dirt into the face of her armed guard, allowing her to join Varia and a few of her loyal warriors in freeing the queens.

All the while, Velasca and Artemis have begun their fierce battle, sword to sword, blow to blow.

Gabrielle makes her way, sais in hands, through the throngs of fighting Amazons, as they all take sides against each other in the chaos. Once she sees that Varia and Lila have been put safely out of fighting range, Gabrielle heads in the direction of the dueling goddesses.

By the time she reaches them, Velasca has sent Artemis sailing through the air with a power bolt. Artemis lands ungracefully on her back at Gabrielle's feet.

"Are you ok?"

"Just a little rusty is all. Care to join me?"

"A pleasure!"

Artemis jumps to her feet and the two of them charge their nemesis with sword and sais raised, and great yells of war.

However, even with being locked up in lava for decades, Velasca is proving to be tough to out master. With metal clashing and power bolts blasting, their fight seems never ending.

Meanwhile, Varia and the other queens struggle to reestablish leadership over their warriors. The majority of Amazons quickly join the queens in their defense. The ones who are genuinely siding with Velasca are immediately identified and found to be few in number. In swift measure, the civil war is squelched and the queens lead their sisters in tending to the wounded and dead, leaving the remaining fight where it belongs... with the gods.

But by this time the godly battle, which still rages on, has made its way into the forest, allowing the peace making to flourish in the camp.

"Give it up girls. You can't beat me. I'm a god. I won't wear out. Whereas you, little Gabrielle, look positively whipped!"

"Don't trouble yourself. I can hold my own."

"Oh really? Even without your new partner?"

Velasca throws her most powerful blast yet at the unprepared Artemis, who is hurled through the air, stopped only by an enormous tree trunk.

Gabrielle recovers quickly from the shock of this display and takes the offensive against the evil goddess.

Xena kneels down beside the seemingly unconscious Artemis. "Get up and help her! You got her into this. You're her only chance."

Using Artemis' sword, now, to invoke fierce striking blows, and her chakram to fend off Velasca's counter moves, Gabrielle thrusts and spins, ducks and weaves, kicks and punches, and forces Velasca further and further into the woods.

In tears, Xena follows the battle and watches helplessly, as her soulmate fights courageously, but foolishly against her over-powering foe.

Almost in a whisper Xena pleads to the air, "Gabrielle... stop! You can't win... Artemis, please. Help her."

Just then Velasca takes the advantage and lands a ferocious kick squarely on Gabrielle's chest, shooting her backwards several yards. She lands in a heap on the ground.

As Velasca prepares for her final, fatal power serge, Xena takes a deep breath, "ARTEMIS!" and jumps into a flying flip, "Lelelelelelelelele-sheeee-ya!"

At the same time Artemis dives in as well, only to come crashing into Xena's unawares spirit and Velasca's death bolt, just before it reaches it's target.

Upon impact, a huge lightning flash erupts, blinding Velasca for a moment. When she recovers, she finds herself standing face to face with a new and improved Artemis -- glowing with might and strength.

"I think you're done here. The Amazons have a patron goddess. The only one they'll ever need."

She waves her hand mockingly at her inferior. "Bye, bye." And with the flick of a finger, a stunned Velasca disappears.

"Ah. Fickle power. What are we gods to do?" the Amazon goddess says with a shrug, then smiles with satisfaction.

Lila comes running through the woods, "Gabrielle? What happened? There was this huge flash of li--" She stops dead in her tracks the moment she sees Artemis standing there, ablaze in her newfound glory. "By the gods!"

"Lila." Artemis takes her hand and shakes it. "Thank you for your help."

Lila is speechless, as she watches Artemis go over to Gabrielle, who is just now coming to.

"How do you feel?" Artemis' concern is sincere.

"Like a Titan just stepped on me." Gabrielle moans and tries to sit up. The goddess smiles as she helps her. "Where's Velasca?"

"I sent her to Ares, as a present. He should have a lot of fun with her, I think." Artemis muses with glee.

"Mm. Yeah." Gabrielle rubs her head as Xena suddenly sits up beside them.

"Aaa!"

Artemis looks innocently over at Lila. "Lila? What's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Gabrielle glances in her sister's direction, only to find Lila, pale as a sheet, mouth hanging open, pointing her finger straight at Xena.

"Wha-- what's going on?" Gabrielle turns to her best friend, who is looking quite shocked and confused in her own right.

"That's what I'd like to know." Xena begins to examine herself. "Why am I alive?"

"Yo-- You're alive?" Gabrielle can hardly say the words.

"She's alive." Artemis looks quite pleased with herself.

Gabrielle turns her tearful, deep green gaze towards Artemis. "You did it! You brought her back."

"That was the plan."

Xena is still in shock. "How?"

"Well, I had a little help." Artemis winks at her blonde co-conspirator.

Xena is starting to put two and two together. "Velasca's power bolt."

"Partly. We were both in need of a little pick-me-up. Velasca gave us the required... energy boost, and you provided the rest."

"Me?" Xena's head is still throbbing. "Wait. I... I can't come back. The souls I avenged..."

"The Universe works in mysterious ways, Xena. Revenge is a greedy bastard that can never be satisfied. Only forgiveness can truly heal all wounds. And that you've been given... Thousands of times over. Now you just have to accept it, and give it, freely, in return. You have too much still to accomplish here... And so, it would seem, have I."

She and Gabrielle give each other knowing glances, then Artemis gets up, helping the reunited companions to do the same.

Xena grips Artemis' hand, tightly. "Thank you."

"You are very welcome. And thank you."

Xena is too overcome with emotion to speak. Instead, they give each other intense looks of understanding and acceptance.

Then, without further ado, Artemis turns, leaving the two soulmates alone, and gently leads a bewildered Lila back to camp. "So, Lila. Have you ever thought about joining the Amazons? ..."

Gabrielle slowly looks up at Xena, who is intently looking down at her... tears welling up in both women's eyes. Without saying a word, they gently take one another in each other's arms and hold on tight, as if never to let go again.

** **
Back at the camp that night, the fire now roars for peace, not war. Gabrielle sidles up to Artemis on a bench, away from the hubbub of celebration, for one last, private question. "I was wondering something."

"Yes?"

"Your daughter..."

Artemis fidgets a bit. "What about her?"

Gabrielle hesitates, wondering if that's nervousness she detects in the goddess. "She's Xena... isn't she?"

Artemis releases a breath, then looks lovingly at her Warrior Queen, "Tell me... Why do all of your stories have Xena as the hero?"

Gabrielle thinks for a second, but before she can respond, "Try writing a story about yourself sometime. It may surprise you what you'll find."

Pondering this remark, Gabrielle looks up to see Xena approaching. When she turns back to Artemis, the oh-so-elusive goddess is gone.

Xena comes and sits down beside her. "Are you ok? You look perplexed."

"I am."

"Well, it has been an... unusual day."

"No kidding." Gabrielle looks down at her boots and kicks a stone with her toe.

After a moment's pause, "You knew all along, didn't you?"

"What?" The bard looks up at her dear friend.

"What I needed to do to come back to you."

"Pretty much. Though Artemis put a lot of pieces into perspective. There was a reason your spirit couldn't move on. I knew you had to find a way to heal yourself, or you'd never truly be free. Sacrificing yourself wasn't enough."

This time Xena looks to her boots. "I have to forgive myself."

"By first forgiving the one person you blamed most for setting you on your evil path."

"Artemis." Xena smiles as she warms with the knowledge of what her partner has done for her.

There's a long moment of silence between them. It's finally broken by Gabrielle's soft, sweet voice, "I can't believe you're here," her last word catching in her throat.

Xena puts her arm around her true love's shoulders. "I know," she whispers in her ear.

"Promise me it's not a dream."

"I promise." Xena's loving gaze stays fixed on her soulmate.

"And promise me you won't die... anytime soon."

Xena smiles, but is silent. Yet Gabrielle hears the answer, and lays her head, contently, onto her lover's shoulder.

They sit there a while... caught up in their reverie.

Finally, Gabrielle wraps her arms around Xena's waist and buries her face in her neck. Xena lays her head on top of hers, and places her hand on her lover's cheek.

"Let's go."

"Go where?" Gabrielle purrs with contentment.

"Anywhere but here."

Gabrielle lifts her head, grinning from ear to ear. She then takes Xena's hand, and leads the way...


To Further Adventures...



SaM -- Copyright 7/30/01 - Last Revised: 2/3/02

DISCLAIMER: Here in lies a piece of FAN FICTION based on Renaissance Pictures/USA Studio's XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS.
No infringement of their rights of ownership is intended in any way.
No copying of this story is allowed without direct permission from the author.

Leap of Faith won an HONORABLE MENTION award from Bards of the Xenaverse's Restoration Project Writing Contest. Heart-felt thanks go to JLynn for sponsoring the event, and to all the folks who voted for my humble offering. CHEERS!

Well? How did you like it? Let me know.


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